MLB Player News

Loftin went 2-for-5 with a stolen base and a run scored in Friday's 12-5 win over the Yankees.

Loftin had started to skid a bit, going 2-for-14 over his previous five games before turning things around Friday. The infielder has logged two steals over his first 19 contests in the majors after posting seven steals in 88 minor-league games this season. His best attribute so far has been steady hitting -- he's batting .323 with an .803 OPS, no home runs, 10 RBI, 10 runs scored, five doubles and a triple over 68 plate appearances.

France went 1-for-3 with a solo home run and an additional run scored in Friday's 8-0 win over the Rangers.

After recently snapping a 36-game homer drought, France has gone deep twice in his last four contests. The first baseman's blast Friday opened the scoring in the third inning. He's at 12 homers, 58 RBI, 79 runs scored, one stolen base, 32 doubles and a .250/.336/.367 slash line through 156 games this season.

Kirilloff is absent from the lineup Friday at Colorado.

Donovan Solano will play first base and bat leadoff as the Twins take on Rockies left-hander Ty Blach. Kirilloff, a left-handed hitter, has slashed just .125/.232/.250 in 56 plate appearances versus southpaws this year.

Schanuel (knee) is back in the lineup Friday against the Athletics.

Schanuel will start at first base and bat leadoff versus left-hander Ken Waldichuk after missing two straight games because of knee tightness. The 21-year-old has slashed .284/.407/.343 since being promoted to the majors in mid-August, reaching base in all 27 games that he's appeared in so far.

Diaz (hamstring) is back in the lineup Friday against the Blue Jays.

Diaz will serve as the Rays' designated hitter and leadoff man after missing two straight games because of right hamstring tightness. Isaac Paredes is playing first base Friday with Osleivis Basabe covering third.

Pratto is absent from the lineup Friday versus the Yankees.

Salvador Perez will start at first base and Logan Porter will do the catching as the Royals face off against left-hander Carlos Rodon. The left-handed-hitting Pratto went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts in Thursday's series finale versus the Tigers and carries a disappointing .228/.306/.352 season slash line.

Calhoun is absent from the lineup Friday versus the Tigers.

Detroit is sending left-hander Joey Wentz to the mound, so Jose Ramirez will take a turn in the DH role as Tyler Freeman covers third base. Calhoun has gone 9-for-46 (.196) in limited action against southpaws this year.

Noda went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in a win over the Twins on Thursday.

Noda's eighth-inning solo blast snapped a 1-1 tie and proved to be the difference in the game. The homer snapped an extended power drought for the rookie, who's now reached safely in six straight games but had last left the yard Sept. 11, a span of 14 contests.

Vaughn went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run in Thursday's 3-1 win over the Diamondbacks.

Vaughn's two-run homer in the bottom of the second inning was his 21st long ball of the season, and it put the White Sox up 2-0. The first baseman has now hit safely in four straight games and six of his last seven. He's batting .286 in September with four homers, 11 RBI and 11 runs scored.

Torkelson went 1-for-4 with a three-run home run in Thursday's win over the Royals.

Torkelson popped his 30th home run of the season in the 7-3 win, giving him six long balls this month. That's on top of nine home runs in August, as the youngster has upped his power output down the stretch. Torkelson could still stand to improve his .233 batting average from this season in future years, but he's a legitimate slugger who has plenty of fantasy upside.